The Federal Government has said Nigerians’ data in the custody of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is safe and not breached by hackers.
Daily Trust reports that a video is currently circulating on social media alleging a breach of the National Identification Number (NIN) database.
But NIMC in a statement on Thursday said the claim is false and unfounded, saying it is a recycled news story reported in 2024 and had since been duly disclaimed by the Commission.
“The Commission National Identity Database (NIDB) has not been breached or compromised at any point. NIMC maintains robust, multi-layered security infrastructure to protect the personal data of every registered citizen and legal resident, in line with international best practice”, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Commission, Dr Kayode Adegoke, said.
Adegoke said the Commission viewed the circulation of such unverified claims with concern, given their capacity to mislead the public and cause unnecessary panic.
He said: “NIMC urges the public to disregard the video’s content and obtain information about the National Identity Management System only from NIMC’s official channels.”
It would be recalled that NIMC recently launched NIN Authentication (NINAuth), described as a cutting-edge suite of services spanning web, API, and mobile verification, designed to enhance data security, protect privacy, and simplify access to government services.
The platform serves as the Commission’s official channel for integrating with its backend infrastructure, adding a stronger layer of protection and giving individuals greater control over their personal information.
The NINAuth requires explicit consent from the NIN holder before sharing data for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes or other verification.
The Commission said this reinforces transparency and user autonomy across the identity ecosystem. With NINAuth, individuals can securely verify their identity for services such as SIM registration, immigration and passport processing, tax filings, and financial transactions—without unnecessarily exposing their raw NIN or personal data.
The Commission reiterates its commitment to protecting the identity information of every Nigerian and legal resident in line with the recently signed NIMC Act 2026 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Adegoke said NIMC would continue to work with relevant security agencies and other relevant agencies to strengthen its systems and public engagement to combat misinformation.
Credit to our Media Partner DailyTrust .
